City's Operation Exodus Improves Safety of Public Transport this Festive Season | Western Cape Government

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City's Operation Exodus Improves Safety of Public Transport this Festive Season

8 December 2010

The City of Cape Town's Traffic Services will commence Operation Exodus next week, 15 December 2010, to monitor all vehicles leaving Cape Town's public transport interchanges. The operation will run until 23 December 2010 and seeks to ensure safer roads over the festive season.

Traffic Officers will test every vehicle that leaves the city's public transport interchanges for vehicle fitness. Any vehicles that are not declared roadworthy will be suspended and prohibited from travelling further. Officers will also ensure that all driver and vehicle documentation is in order prior to the vehicle's departure.

A record will be kept of all public transport vehicles leaving the city's public transport interchanges and this information will be shared with other departments and key role-players. Such information-sharing is crucial, because it allows Traffic Services to keep a record of the trip schedule and any roadworthy checks that have already been performed.

As part of the operation, officers will screen vehicle loads, especially those of trailers. Any vehicles suspected of overloading will be taken to the nearest weighbridge and goods will be offloaded if necessary.

Additional Traffic Officers will be dispatched to public transport interchanges so that they can patrol the areas and prevent illegal ranking.

Traffic Services will continue to enforce responsible driving throughout the city. A range of roadblocks will be held across Cape Town, in partnership with the Provincial Government of the Western Cape.

"The City encourages all road users to ensure that their vehicles are roadworthy before setting off on any long journey. Passengers should also take responsibility by refusing to travel in unroadworthy vehicles. Drivers are reminded to stop regularly to prevent driver fatigue which is a major contributing factor for accidents. Passengers can play their part by encouraging drivers to stop when they look tired," said the Spokesperson for Traffic Services, Chief Inspector Merle Lourens.

Issued by:
Communication Department
City of Cape Town

Media Enquiries: 

Chief Inspector Merle Lourens
Media Spokesperson
Traffic Services
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 812 4570
Cell: 072 200 1512

Kevin Jacobs
Traffic Services
City of Cape Town
Tel: 021 812 4571
Cell: 083 264 9661